Raytheon, Kuwait School, UML Partner Up

LOWELL -- UMass Lowell faculty and students will work with Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems and Gulf University for Science and Technology, in Kuwait, as part of a partnership being developed by the three entities.

Chancellor Marty Meehan and officials from Raytheon and GUST signed a memorandum of understanding regarding the budding partnership at a ceremony at the Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center at UMass Lowell on Monday.

UMass Lowell Provost Ahmed Abdelal said details of the partnership are still being worked out, but that generally, the collaborative effort will see the two universities work with Raytheon to develop joint-degree programs at the undergraduate and master's levels.

Abdelal and other UMass Lowell officials, along with Raytheon representatives, have already visited the GUST campus in Kuwait.

Abdelal said UMass faculty could teach classes in Kuwait, and that students could have a chance to study overseas and work with a giant in the defense industry as specific programs are put in place.

Programs that are part of the partnership are expected to focus on sciences, engineering and business.

He estimated the first programs offered as part of the partnership may begin in the fall of 2013, with more programs being added later.

Kuwait has long been an important strategic partner of the United States in the Middle East, and Raytheon has had a presence in the country for more than 20 years, according to Sanjay Kapoor, vice president of Integrated Air & Missile Defense for Raytheon.

Meehan and Shuaib Shuaib, president of GUST, said the partnership will help prepare students and faculty to function in a global economy.

Raytheon, which has several local facilities and recruits many of its workers from local universities, has long been interested in higher education.

Christine Gillete, a university spokeswoman, said this partnership will be biggest involving Raytheon and UMass Lowell.

"We're delighted to connect further with Raytheon," Abdelal said.

Meehan said the partnership would be among 95 international partnerships, in 40 countries, that the university has entered into since 2009.